1. Intent

1.1 This Standard Radio System Plan (SRSP) states the minimum technical requirements for the efficient use of the bands 17.8-18.3GHz and 19.3-19.7GHz by low, medium and high-capacity (LC, MC and HC) point-to-point digital radio systems in the fixed service using digital modulation.

1.3 This SRSP specifies equipment characteristics relating to efficient spectrum usage only and is not to be regarded as a comprehensive specification for equipment design and/or selection.

2. General

2.1 This SRSP replaces SRSP 317.8, Issue 1.1 Existing radio systems operating as standard prior to the issuance of this SRSP may continue to operate as standard.2 Channel centre frequencies of these systems are shown in Appendix 1. Coordination with these systems is required. Extension and/or expansion of these systems will be permitted.

2.2 New stand-alone radio routes must conform to the requirements of this Standard.

2.3 Revision of this SRSP will be made as required.

2.4 Radio systems conforming to these technical requirements will be given priority in licensing over non-standard radio systems operating in these bands.

2.6 The Geographical Differences Policy (GDP) guideline applies in these frequency bands. More information on the GDP can be found in SP1-20GHz.3

2.7 Although a radio system conforms to the requirements of this SRSP, modifications may be required to the system whenever harmful interference4 is caused.

2.8 When potential conflicts between radio systems cannot be resolved by the parties concerned, the Department should be advised. After consultation with these parties, Industry Canada will determine the necessary modifications and schedule of modifications to resolve the conflicts.

2.9 The Department may require the licensees and/or applicants to use receiver selectivity characteristics that provide rejection of harmful interference.

2.10 Frequency Division Duplex radio systems operating in this band shall use a two-frequency plan. Where reasonable economic or technical justification is provided (e.g. where siting prevents adequate antenna discrimination), extra frequencies may be used to resolve the problem, subject to the provisions of Section 2.6. Time Division Duplex radio systems should give preference to the use of the unpaired channels.

2.11 In this band, use of the fixed service has priority over use of the fixed-satellite service.

4.2 Radio Frequency Channel Centre Frequencies

4.2.1 The centre frequencies of the 8 paired channels and 1 unpaired channel which allow RF channel bandwidths of greater than 40 MHz and less than or equal to 50 MHz are expressed by the following relationships:

Paired channels with T/R spacing = 1560 MHz:

Lower half of the band

\(A_{n} = 17815 + 50n MHz\)

\(\mbox{for n = 1 to 6}\)

Upper half of the band

\( A'_{n} = 19375 + 50n MHz \)

\(\mbox{for n = 1 to 6}\)

Paired channels with T/R spacing = 1160 MHz:

Lower half of the band

\( B_{n} = 18115 + 50n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 2}\)

Upper half of the band

\(B'_{n} = 19275 + 50n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 2}\)

Unpaired channel:

\(C_{1} = 18265 MHz\)

4.2.2 The centre frequencies of the 10 paired channels and 2 unpaired channels which allow RF channel bandwidths of greater than 30 MHz and less than or equal to 40 MHzare expressed by the following relationships:

Paired channels with T/R spacing = 1560 MHz:

Lower half of the band

\(D_{n} = 17800 + 40n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 8}\)

Upper half of the band

\(D'_{n} = 19360 + 40n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 8}\)

Paired channels with T/R spacing = 1160 MHz:

Lower half of the band

\( E_{n} = 18120 + 40n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 2}\)

Upper half of the band

\(E'_{n} = 19280 + 40n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 2}\)

Unpaired channels:

\(F_{n} = 18200 + 40n\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 2}\)

4.2.3 The centre frequencies of the 13 paired channels and 3 unpaired channels which allow RF channel bandwidths of greater than 20 MHz and less than or equal to 30 MHz are expressed by the following relationships:

4.2.4 The centre frequencies of the 20 paired channels and 5 unpaired channels which allow RF channel bandwidths of greater than 10 MHz and less than or equal to 20 MHz are expressed by the following relationships:

Paired channels with T/R spacing = 1560 MHz:

Lower half of the band

\(K_{n} = 17790 + 20n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 17}\)

Upper half of the band

\(K'_{n} = 19350 + 20n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 17}\)

Paired channels with T/R spacing = 1160 MHz:

Lower half of the band

\(L_{n} = 18130 + 20n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 3}\)

Upper half of the band

\(L'_{n} = 19290 + 20n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 3}\)

Unpaired channel:

\(M_{n} = 18190 + 20n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 5}\)

4.2.5 The centre frequencies of the 40 paired channels and 10 unpaired channels which allow RF channel bandwidths of greater than 5 MHz and less than or equal to 10 MHz are expressed by the following relationships:

Paired channels with T/R spacing = 1560 MHz:

Lower half of the band

\(N_{n} = 17795 + 10n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 34}\)

Upper half of the band

\(N'_{n} = 19355 + 10n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 34}\)

Paired channels with T/R spacing = 1160 MHz:

Lower half of the band

\(P_{n} = 18135 + 10n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 6}\)

Upper half of the band

\(P'_{n} = 19295 + 10n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 6}\)

Unpaired channels:

\(Q_{n} = 18195 + 10n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 10}\)

4.2.6 The centre frequencies of the 80 paired channels and 20 unpaired channels which allow RF channel bandwidths of greater than 2.5 MHz and less than or equal to 5 MHz are expressed by the following relationships:

Paired channels with T/R spacing = 1560 MHz:

Lower half of the band

\(R_{n} = 17797.5 + 5n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 68}\)

Upper half of the band

\(R'_{n} = 19357.5 + 5n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 68}\)

Paired channels with T/R spacing = 1160 MHz:

Lower half of the band

\(S_{n} = 18137.5 + 5n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 12}\)

Upper half of the band

\(S'_{n} = 19297.5 + 5n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 12}\)

Unpaired channels:

\(T_{n} = 18197.5 + 5n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 20}\)

4.2.7 The centre frequencies of the 160 paired channels and 40 unpaired channels which allow RF channel bandwidths of 2.5 MHz are expressed by the following relationships:

Paired channels with T/R spacing = 1560 MHz:

Lower half of the band

\(U_{n} = 17798.75 + 2.5n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 136 }\)

Upper half of the band

\(U'_{n} = 19358.75 + 2.5n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 136 }\)

Paired channels with T/R spacing = 1160 MHz:

Lower half of the band

\(W_{n} = 18138.75 + 2.5n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 24}\)

Upper half of the band

\(W'_{n} = 19298.75 + 2.5n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 24}\)

Unpaired channels:

\(X_{n} = 18198.75 + 2.5n MHz\)

\( \mbox{for n = 1 to 40}\)

4.3 Branching or Spur Route Channels

The frequencies assigned to a main route system should be reused on the branching or spur routes where possible. The siting of repeater stations should be planned with this requirement in view in order that sufficient antenna discrimination is obtained at the branch-off angle.

4.4 Closed Loops

Systems must be designed so that any closed loop will comprise an even number of hops.

4.5 Assignment of Frequencies

New systems using any of the 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10 MHz channel plans should use the lowest available frequency pair that can be successfully coordinated. New systems using 5 and 2.5 MHz channel plans should use the highest available frequency pair that can be successfully coordinated.

4.6 Spectral Efficiency

Digital systems submitted for licensing must have a spectral efficiency capability of at least 1.0 bits/sec/hertz of RF channel bandwidth on a single polarization.

4.7 Protection Channels

One protection channel will normally be permitted for systems designed and planned with more than one working channel. Single channel systems requiring protection must employ hot standby protection.

5. Transmitter Characteristics

5.1 The transmitter power delivered to the antenna input shall not exceed the following limits for each RF channel bandwidth.

Table 1

RF Channel Bandwidth (MHz)

Power Limit (watts)

50

5

40

5

30

5

20

5

10

5

5

1

2.5

1

5.2 The transmitted frequency shall be maintained within 0.003% of the assigned frequency.

5.3 The transmitter emissions in any 1 MHz band, the centre frequency of which is removed from the assigned frequency by more than 50% up to and including 250% of the authorized bandwidth, shall be as specified by the following equation but in no event less than 11 dB; however, attenuation greater than 56 dB or to an absolute power of less than -13dBm/MHz is not required:

\(A = 11 + 0.4 (P - 50) + 10 log_{10} B (dB) \)

A = Attenuation (in dB) below the mean output power level

P = Separation between the assigned carrier and any emission outside the authorized bandwidth divided by the authorized bandwidth expressed as a percent.

B = Authorized bandwidth in MHz

The transmitter emissions in any 1 MHz band, the centre frequency of which is removed from the assigned frequency by more than 250% of the authorized bandwidth shall be attenuated by \(43+ 10log_{10}\) (mean output power in watts) \(dB\) or \(80 dB\), whichever is the lesser attenuation.

6.1 The co-polarized radiation pattern envelope in the horizontal plane of the antenna must remain within Envelope A defined in Table 2 and shown in Figure 2, for both vertical and horizontal polarizations.

6.2 In uncongested areas, the co-polarized radiation pattern envelope in the horizontal plane of the antenna must remain within Envelope B defined in Table 2 and shown in Figure 2 for both vertical and horizontal polarizations.

Table 2: Antenna Standards

Envelope

Minimum Radiation Suppression to Angle in Degrees from Centreline of Main Beam (dB)

0°
to
1.1°

1.1°
to
5°

5°
to
10°

10°
to
15°

15°
to
20°

20°
to
30°

30°
to
100°

100°
to
140°

140°
to
180°

A

0

3

25

29

33

36

42

55

55

B

0

3

20

24

28

32

35

36

36

7. Maximum Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power

7.1 The maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) from the antenna must not in any case exceed +55 dBW per RF channel.

Description of Images

This figure illustrates the radio frequency channel plans for the bands 17.8-18.3 GHz and 19.3-19.7 GHz. These channel plans are also given in equation form in sections 4.2.1 through 4.2.7 and in tabular form in Appendix 2.